Fred A. Wilcox
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Fred A. Wilcox is a retired associate professor in the writing department at
Ithaca College Ithaca College is a private college in Ithaca (town), New York, Ithaca, New York. It was founded by William Egbert in 1892 as a Music school, conservatory of music. Ithaca College is known for its media-related programs and entertainment program ...
. He is the author of six books on issues including the
Vietnam War The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) and their allies. North Vietnam w ...
,
nuclear power Nuclear power is the use of nuclear reactions to produce electricity. Nuclear power can be obtained from nuclear fission, nuclear decay and nuclear fusion reactions. Presently, the vast majority of electricity from nuclear power is produced by ...
, and the Plowshares Movement.Ithaca College: Faculty
/ref> Two of his books discuss the effects of
Agent Orange Agent Orange is a chemical herbicide and defoliant, one of the tactical uses of Rainbow Herbicides. It was used by the U.S. military as part of its herbicidal warfare program, Operation Ranch Hand, during the Vietnam War from 1962 to 1971. T ...
, a
defoliant A defoliant is any herbicidal chemical sprayed or dusted on plants to cause their leaves to fall off. Defoliants are widely used for the selective removal of weeds in managing croplands and lawns. Worldwide use of defoliants, along with the d ...
used extensively during the war.


Life and career

Wilcox was born in
Des Moines, Iowa Des Moines is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities in Iowa, most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is the county seat of Polk County, Iowa, Polk County with parts extending into Warren County, Iowa, Wa ...
. He graduated from the
University of Iowa The University of Iowa (U of I, UIowa, or Iowa) is a public university, public research university in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1847, it is the oldest and largest university in the state. The University of Iowa is organized int ...
where he studied Sociology and English. He earned an MFA from the
Iowa Writers' Workshop The Iowa Writers' Workshop, at the University of Iowa, is a graduate-level creative writing program. At 89 years, it is the oldest writing program offering a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in the United States. Its acceptance rate is between 2 ...
and a doctorate in English and Expository Writing from
SUNY Albany The State University of New York at Albany (University at Albany, UAlbany, or SUNY Albany) is a public research university in Albany, New York, United States. Founded in 1844, it is one of four "university centers" of the State University of N ...
.


Books on Agent Orange

His first book on the subject, ''Waiting for an Army to Die'' (), recounts the effects of the chemical defoliant
Agent Orange Agent Orange is a chemical herbicide and defoliant, one of the tactical uses of Rainbow Herbicides. It was used by the U.S. military as part of its herbicidal warfare program, Operation Ranch Hand, during the Vietnam War from 1962 to 1971. T ...
on US troops during and after the Vietnam War. The chemical was used to eliminate the dense foliage of the forests in
Vietnam Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV), is a country at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of about and a population of over 100 million, making it the world's List of countries and depende ...
, which the US military believed provided cover to enemy fighters. Wilcox follows the lives of US veterans who argue that the chemical was toxic, citing health conditions including cancer and fetal deformations. The book helped bring to light the issue of Agent Orange in the United States when it was first published in 1983.Rebekah Wilce
"Through the Toxic Mirror: Vietnamese and Americans Continue to Suffer Effects of Agent Orange"
PRWatch. September 12, 2012.
Jon W. Mitchell wrote in '' The Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus'': "In 1989, Fred A. Wilcox chronicled the struggles that US veterans faced in receiving recognition for their exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War in the book ''Waiting For An Army to Die.'' Twenty-two years later, the title still encapsulates the attitude adopted by the Pentagon and the VA towards former service members citing exposure to dioxins on Okinawa." George Claxton, Chair Emeritus of the National Agent Orange/Dioxin Committee of
Vietnam Veterans of America Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc. (VVA) is a national non-profit corporation founded in 1978 in the United States that is committed to serving the needs of all veterans. It is funded without any contribution from any branch of government. VVA is t ...
, wrote in a book review in Agent Orange Zone, "In the past thirty three years I have read every book published on the tragedy of Agent Orange and dioxin. Beyond a doubt, ''Scorched Earth'' ... is one of the most informative works of truth released on the market."George Claxton
/ref> In 2011 Wilcox published ''Scorched Earth'' (), a continuation of the issues he addressed in ''Waiting for an Army to Die''. In it he examines the effects of Agent Orange on the Vietnamese people and their natural environment. Wilcox traveled with his son, Brendan Wilcox, whose photos accompany Wilcox's text, to Vietnam to interview individuals and families suffering from many health issues related to Agent Orange exposure. The conditions include
Hodgkin's lymphoma Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is a type of lymphoma in which cancer originates from a specific type of white blood cell called lymphocytes, where multinucleated Reed–Sternberg cells (RS cells) are present in the lymph nodes. The condition was named a ...
,
chloracne Chloracne is an acneiform eruption of blackheads, cysts, and pustules associated with exposure to certain halogenated aromatic compounds, such as chlorinated dioxins and dibenzofurans. The lesions are most frequently found on the cheeks, behind ...
, severe birth-defects and various types of
cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving Cell growth#Disorders, abnormal cell growth with the potential to Invasion (cancer), invade or Metastasis, spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Po ...
, among others. About the book, Evaggelos Vallianatos wrote in ''The World Post'' (a partnership of
The Huffington Post ''HuffPost'' (''The Huffington Post'' until 2017, itself often abbreviated as ''HPo'') is an American progressive news website, with localized and international editions. The site offers news, satire, blogs, and original content, and covers p ...
and Berggruen Institute on Governance,"It is eloquent, thought provoking, absorbing, daring, moral, and necessary. It is a jolt to historical amnesia. It tells what chemical warfare did to Vietnam -- and, to a lesser degree, America."


Books on peace and activism

Wilcox's 1991 book ''Uncommon Martyrs: The Plowshares Movement and the Catholic Left'' is a portrait of some of the primary figures in the movement named from the biblical command to "beat swords into plowshares." Led by radical priests Philip and Daniel Berrigan, it included many well-known Catholic peace activists who engaged in many acts of civil disobedience in their attempts to stop the Vietnam War. Wilcox cowrot
''Fighting the Lamb's War,''
() the autobiography of Philip Berrigan, published in 1996.


Other works

Wilcox is also the author of a novel, ''Secrets'', a memoir, ''Chasing Shadows: Memoirs of a Sixties Survivor'', and shorter essays and nonfiction works.


Books


Written by Wilcox

*''Waiting for an Army to Die: The Tragedy of Agent Orange'' (Random House 1983,
Seven Stories Press Seven Stories Press is an independent American publishing company. Based in New York City, the company was founded by Dan Simon in 1995, after establishing Four Walls Eight Windows in 1984 as an imprint at Writers and Readers, and then incorpor ...
2011) *''Uncommon Martyrs'' (Addison-Wesley 1991) *''Chasing Shadows: Memoirs of a Sixties Survivor'' (The Permanent Press 1996) *''Fighting the Lamb's War: Skirmishes with the American Empire'' (the autobiography of Philip Berrigan) (Common Courage Press 1996) *''Scorched Earth: Legacies of Chemical Warfare in Vietnam'' (
Seven Stories Press Seven Stories Press is an independent American publishing company. Based in New York City, the company was founded by Dan Simon in 1995, after establishing Four Walls Eight Windows in 1984 as an imprint at Writers and Readers, and then incorpor ...
2011)
''Secrets''
(Split Oak Press 2012)


Edited by Wilcox

*''Grass Roots: An Anti-Nuke Source Book'' (Crossing Press 1982) *''Disciples & Dissidents'' (Haleys 2000)


References

Reference 2: Note that Wilce makes the incorrect assertion that Wilcox "broke" the story of Agent Orange. He did not, but this book uncovers much new information about its use and effects on U.S. soldiers and personnel in Vietnam during and after their service there.


External links


"Waiting for an Army to Die"

''Scorched Earth''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilcox, Fred A. Living people Year of birth missing (living people) Historians of the Vietnam War Anti-nuclear movement Writers from Des Moines, Iowa University of Iowa alumni Ithaca College faculty